The History of the International Children's Festival

First conceived and produced in 1971 as International Children's Day, the International Children's Festival provides an opportunity for children throughout the world to share their cultures through the language of the arts. This is especially important since Fairfax County is one of the most diverse counties in the Washington metropolitan area. One of the originators of the Festival was Catherine Filene Shouse, founder of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the nation's only national park devoted solely to the performing arts.

Today, children from all over the world continue to share their cultural traditions, creating an atmosphere of friendship, trust, and harmony.

In addition to lively performances on the Filene Stage by international, national, regional, and local performers, interactive workshops engage the whole family - from the educational arts workshops with art activities from around the world to the Arts & Technology Pavilion providing hands-on experience with the newest creative technologies.

The International Children's Festival is produced by the Arts Council of Fairfax County, a private non-profit corporation, in cooperation with the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and the National Park Service